I’ve gotten some great feed back from these discussions on how to increase my business. Thanks a ton guys.
I’m looking into getting a website for my business. The best web company I’ve seen for contractors is ContractorProWebsites.com
It costs about $40 bucks a month which seems good.
But I’m not sure what, if any, difference a website will make?
Would you look at ContractorProWebsites.com and tell me if this is a good deal, or a waste of money.
Thanks,
Jim
Replies
Check out this recent discussion
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=113146.1
Hope that helps.
As long as you know that you'll use everything they offer, then it might be Ok. Sure sounds easy.
Do you know if you get your own URL? Like www. jandrews. com or will it be
www. ContractorProWebsites .com/jandrews
Big difference IMHO.
Jim,
I think most customers sort of expect it now days, and might even use the fact that you have one to choose you over another company that does not have a site. I am working on one for myself right now.
I would like to make one suggestion though. Unless you are willing to commit to answering every single e-mail on a daily basis, if not more often, I personally would not put an e-mail address on your web page. I would rather a company I am dealing with not have an e-mail address if they are not going to answer e-mails.
Just my opinion,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Would you look at ContractorProWebsites.com and tell me if this is a good deal, or a waste of money.
Looks kinds pricey for what you're getting. You can get hosting and lots of plug in template options with unlimited pages for less than $10/month. Shopping cart site hosting can be had for less than $50/month, but I think professional design is a must for success in that venue.
I've used a gallery type site for several years and have gotten very few leads from it. It has however, helped me close a lot of sales and eliminated having to give references.
http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
I just finished shopping for GCs for my project, and I went through a lot of candidates. I didn't use this as a sole criterion for choosing the winner, but the fact that they did have a good (rather than slick) website was an indicator to me of how well clued-in the managment is. And in my book having a bad website is worse than having no website.
But even more important is fast and thorough response to email. I can't believe how many companies and vendors give lousy email. To me this is decisive. You must be able to turn around the client email same day, or at least send out a notice that you are working on an answer.
$40/mo is way too much on an ongoing basis, IMO. I pay about $100/year for web hosting and ongoing registration of my domain name. I had to deal with building the site separately--part of that was done by someone else for a one time fee, and the rest was done by me. It helps quite a bit to be able to maintain it yourself.
For a small time builder the ONLY thing that works is time and a good reputation...............
If you have a wall of employees between you and your client and build a lot of spec houses a web site makes sense.
I had one for years, but only as a place to display my homes/furniture etc. to clients I had already met through word of mouth.......I never made a nickel off Googlers.
A website may fill your ego, but don't expect it to fill your pocket.
actually if you want a site google site gives you a free one.......you get to create it etc........plus if you want a more fancy deal they have the deluxe model for 50.00 a year
For a small time builder the ONLY thing that works is time and a good reputation...............
I dunno 'bout that - I've gotten work from my website. But then again, I'm smaller than small time. Tiny time? Nanno time?
Time and a good reputation wouldn't hurt either! View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I think the biggest value of a web site to a small time contractor is having an address to put on your trucks and job signs.
Phone numbers are hard to remember, but JAndrews.com would be easy.
Phone numbers are hard to remember, but JAndrews.com would be easy.
You know, I seldom look at a phone book anymore. I use the internet to find phone #'s, directions, addresses. And I prefer email to phone calls in a lot of cases. My office hours are often early morning and late evening - not prime phone calling times. If something is not time sensitive, I can email at 5 am and let the recipient deal with the message at their convenience.
I said all that to say this: An easy to remember email address (Jay@jandrews dot com for example) makes me get back to you quicker. http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Website name?
Try something short that matches the description of your business. Location would be helpful too. Believe me it can make a difference...eventually.
I don't know where you are or your specialty but lets just say Pittsburgh and you're a cabinet maker.
Pittsburghcabinets.com
More to it but a start.
What size is your business and what is your primary line of business?
I'd say a web-site is mandatory for a few reasons, but that said our company web-site is horrible... It's on the list of things to do, just hasn't made it to the top yet.
The reason I think a web-site is mandatory is 1) people search the internet more so then the phone book. 2) It gives you the oppurtunity for an online gallery along with providing other information for people thinking of calling you, and 3) if you link to your e-mail it will give customers a way to contact you while they're sitting at the computer looking at your site.
In reality it's all in what you make it out to be.
One of the reasons I haven't done anything with our web-site is I haven't found or come across anyone I feel comfortable doing business with for the re-design.
In looking at that site contractorprowebsites.com I have a feeling those guys are clueless. They talk about getting into search engines, but a good tell tell sign is by taking a snippet of text from any website and paste it into a Google search.
I took the phrase "...construction business online today and get you found onGoogle" from their home page and it does not show up!
Your choice. I'm kind of curious where you found this site??
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22construction+business+online+today+and+get+you+found+on+Google%22&btnG=Search
edit- part of that $40.00 could be for buying ad space with Google adwords. Then you'll show up
Edited 12/9/2008 8:16 am ET by HardwoodGuy
I didn't find that site, another poster here did, I haven't really looked at it myself.
We have a site and a hosting company so I doubt I'd go that direction
"99% of the work happens once"
Good point.
Related:
If you do get a site up regardless of who does the work gather all the information(passwords, back up on CD) in case you want it updated down the road. I can't count the number of people I've run into that have no clue how to get into the site because the person that did the work can't be found.
CAGIV <!----><!----> - the question wasn't directed at you.
"If you serve a particular area, it would help to include something like "serving the towns of..."
Ah...TEXT is the key! Haven't I mentioned TEXT before? It's no wonder why the guy from Sacramento gets jobs from his site. Sorry the name escapes me and I'm not good at finding stuff here. Use his site as a good reference.
and take advantage of Google maps- free
Edited 12/9/2008 5:42 pm ET by HardwoodGuy
You really need to have a website, but that pricing model is all wrong. Unless you're going to update it with "weekly specials" or something, 99% of the work happens once. You can find someone local to design your site, and then you just pay a nominal fee to an ISP for hosting it.
People who tell you they'll get you on search engines are generally full of it. For the most part, the big search engines are smart now, and some of the tactics, would reflect poorly on you. If you serve a particular area, it would help to include something like "serving the towns of..." so that someone searching for "contractor in mayberry" would find you.
Pete